By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
The Senate Finance Committee was sharply divided in its vote to approve the controversial Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services, signaling serious concerns among congressional conservatives about her ties to late-term abortionist George Tiller.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 15 to 8 in favor of sending the nomination to a vote in the full Senate. Only two of 10 committee Republicans joined majority Democrats in voting “yes.”
Republican senators are under intense pressure from pro-life groups to oppose Sebelius because of her strident pro-abortion stance. These concerns were intensified when it became clear that Sebelius failed to fully disclose to senators the extent of campaign contributions she received from Tiller, an abortionist who is currently under investigation by the Kansas medical board. Sebelius claimed the omission was an “unintentional oversight”.
However, additional information about her deep ties to the abortionist were recently discovered in the form of letters showing that Dr. Tiller contributed as much as $250,000 to the Governor’s gubernatorial campaigns through his political action committee, ProKanDo.
During the committee meeting on Tuesday, Sen. John Kyl (R-AZ) also raised concerns about Sebelius commitment to ensure that government doesn’t try to interfere in Americans’ health care choices.
“I believe in the right of every American to choose the doctor, the hospital, the health plan of his or her choice,” Kyl said. He contended that Sebelius had displayed “insufficient commitment to these principles.”
Pro-family groups such as the Family Research Center (FRC) say the divided committee vote reflects growing grassroots opposition to Gov. Sebelius.
“In the last few days, our supporters have sent nearly 40,000 emails to the Senate urging opposition to the Sebelius nomination,” said FRC president Tony Perkins. “She has yet to fully answer the question that the American people have a right to know: Did Gov. Sebelius deliberately hide these ties to the abortion industry from Congress and the country at large?”
He goes on to say: “As Secretary of the vast U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Governor Sebelius will oversee an annual budget of $821 billion that affects every American’s health and will have chief responsibility for guiding the creation of the Obama health care plan. Will anyone be buying influence with her, as Dr. Tiller appears to have done?
“We urge the U.S. Senate to truly set a new tone in Washington, stop playing politics and stand up for integrity by rejecting her nomination.”
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly/Women of Grace. http://www.womenofgrace.com
